What shifts in public awareness have folks noticed, if any? My own experience is that people are more generally aware of y2k (at least I don't have to explain to them what y2k means) and admit it will be a problem. However, none of them seem to have drawn the conclusion that it could affect them. They are always quite stunned to hear it and are somewhat disbelieving. What are others finding out there?

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), November 02, 1998

Answers

I think quite a few people became aware of Y2K around April or May of this year--but they still don't think it's going to impact them personally. Once in awhile I'll talk to someone who knows someone that's making personal preparations.

There's only been one person I've been able to convince that Y2K is a major problem. That person is my best friend, so it was a little bit easier.

I just recently got a job at a major national retailer who is on record as being concerned about its own compliance and the compliance of its vendors. I put on my application that one of my strengths to the company is that I'm very familiar with "Y2K issues". The woman who interviewed me though hadn't heard the term "Y2K" and asked me what it meant.

This past Spring was one escalation in public Y2K awareness, and I don't expect another escalation until January of 1999.

What's ironic is that the person who told me about Y2K in the summer of 1997 still doesn't think it's going to be a problem.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), November 02, 1998.

The fewer people who are aware the better gives De Yourdon Posters a fighting chance.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 02, 1998.

>The fewer people who are aware the better gives De Yourdon Posters a fighting chance. <

Is this the reason an ominous, thundering silence blankets our land?

-- Creature (animal@zoo.net), November 02, 1998.

The general trend I have noticed is that there is more awareness. The problem is this awareness does not translate into any type of concern or preparation. Many people that I talk to seem to believe the bump in the road senario. I am in a business that has a lot of people contact. I am also located in the DC suburbs. Too many people believe the government would tell them if there was a problem. Initially this appeared to be true. Now, however, there is a lot backpedalling on the part of those who people count on for the truth. As long as this continues, awareness will not be the problem-truth will be the issue.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), November 02, 1998.

"As long as this continues, awareness will not be the problem-truth will be the issue. "

Wow,...I sure agree with you, Mike....this is the issue NOW....I read the papers, watch the TV and mumble and rant...Tell the truth!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 02, 1998.

I've done a VERY informal personal poll about this in the last few weeks, here in New York City. If I've casually engaged 50 people in conversation about Y2K over the past few weeks (strangers and aquaintances, not friends and family) MAYBE two people have never heard of it. (I can't remember who those two may have been) 40 people have said "Oh yeah, I heard something about that. My computer may not work right and I better not fly on a jumbo jet. That's why I had a problem with my new credit card. My brother says it's gonna be a big problem." Things to that effect. The other eight seem to understand that it could be a major problem, even world changing. I don't know of anyone else, other than me and my family, who are actively preparing.

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), November 02, 1998.

My take is that, although many more people are aware that there is indeed a "Y2K problem", they don't get very worried ... because they don't see that many other people worried, and surely if it were really anything to be worried about, then other people would be worried, but since other people are not, they are not. And EVERYONE feels this way, so....

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), November 02, 1998.

Many people aren't worried because they may not understand the full extent of the problem. There are several of my husbands co-workers that are just now coming around. What he was trying to tell them 6 months ago is finally sinking in. They are hearing rumors within their own company that things are going to get hairy. Some are angry that they now have to spend $$$$ for something that may or may not happen. And then there are those who think the government will be their saviour. When the times comes and TSHTF these people are going to be found wanting.

-- Bardou (Bardou@baloney.com), November 03, 1998.

I've done a VERY informal personal poll about this in the last few weeks, here in New York City. If I've casually engaged 50 people in conversation about Y2K over the past few weeks (strangers and aquaintances, not friends and family) Very brave!

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 03, 1998.

The heard affect has not kicked in yet. Once the majority of sheeple start to move towards awareness, the rest will follow. Maybe! The sheeple are decieved and govment trusting. Look who is the president of the country, still!

-- smith (gman100@webtv.net), November 03, 1998.

One extra comment to my earlier post here about awareness, but people not thinking it's going to impact them personally. The few people I've run across who MIGHT do something to prepare for Y2K have all said the same thing--they'll take their money out of the bank. They can't imagine no electricity and can't imagine food and gasoline shortages--the first thing they think about is their money in the bank.

Bank runs look unavoidable.

My brother goes to college in a small town south of Lexington, Kentucky. He asked the VP of his bank there if they are working on Y2K, and the answer (of course) was that they are working on it. Then the bank's VP asked my brother what he would do if he had a good sum of money in the bank next year.

My brother's answer was that he would withdraw it. The VP said he was afraid my brother would say that and was concerned because a lot of other people had told this VP the same thing.

The Vice-President of the bank also told my brother that the President of the bank had called the utilities in the area to see if they'd be ready for Y2K. The utilities would not give the bank's President a yes or a no. Liability issues, I presume...

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), November 04, 1998.